Jimmy Adams will open the batting for Hampshire in the championship opener at Worcestershire tomorrow.

Loughborough University captain Adams, 22, scored his maiden first class hundred against Somerset on Sunday.

He will put his human biology degree on hold for four days so he can partner Derek Kenway in a right hand/left hand combination at the top of the Hampshire order.

Winchester-born Adams will be playing his third championship match of his career, having broken into the Hampshire side at the back end of last season, averaging 25.33 over four innings.

He was not thought to be available for Hampshire until June but John Francis, his county and university teammate, has more study commitments as he is in his final year.

Paul Terry, who will take charge of his first game as first team manager tomorrow, said: "Jimmy's available for certain games. We've got to work around Loughborough's commitments but he is going to be available for a few games but John is involved with exams.

"I coached Jimmy in Perth two or three years ago, he's a very good prospect. He's talented and his all round attitude is excellent.

"He's already proved himself against county opposition and his hundred last week would have given him a lot of confidence, he's done very well for himself."

Terry added: "If we play well we're going to be pretty competitive. Worcestershire will provide a good test - they're one of the better sides in the division - so it should give us a good idea of where we're at.

"We've obviously gone through their team but we don't spend too much time looking at their strengths, we're focused on beating them."

Terry expects a batter-friendly New Road wicket but he is likely to be without Chris Tremlett, who is struggling with sore shins.

Alex Morris is likely to join Tremlett in being omitted from the 13 but there will be debuts for Wasim Akram and Ed Giddins.

Terry added: "We want to get Chris right before we play him. We're expecting a good wicket, we haven't had as much rain as you expect at this time of year."

Terry and captain John Crawley will make a final decision on the XI tomorrow morning.

Hampshire (from): Adams, Kenway, Crawley (capt), Smith, Kendall, Pothas, Mascarenhas, Wasim, Udal, Mullally, Giddins, Morris, Tremlett.